Means for filing and handling phonograph records



y 1962 A. c. LOWTHER 3,042,469

MEANS FOR FILING AND HANDLING PHONOGRAPH RECORDS 2 SheetS- -Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 12, 1961 A. c. LOWTHER 3,042,469

MEANS FOR FILING AND HANDLING PHONOGRAPH RECORDS July 3, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 12, 1961 ENTOR. A gmw/dla 3,942,469 Fatented July 3, 1962 3,042,469 MEANS FOR FILING AND HANDLING PHONOGRAPH RECORDS Aiexander C.-Lowther, 1732 White St., Alexandria, La. Filed Jan. 12, 1961, Ser. No. 82,213 1 Claim. (Cl. 312-13) This invention relates to a device for holding and handling phonograph records.

This invention is an improvement of the filing and indexing system for phonograph records set forth in prior Patent 2,535,688.

The primary object of this invention is to provide an improved means for holding and filing phonograph records wherein deterioration of the phonograph records will be minimized or prevented, and also there is provided an indexing system which permits a person to readily obtain the desired phonograph from the record collection or library.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved means for filing and handling phonograph records wherein envelopes are stacked vertically in any suitable cabinet and wherein the weight of the records in the envelopes will hold them in place.

A further object of the invention is to provide a phonograph handling and filing system which includes a plurality of envelopes or containers that are mounted in a suitable cabinet, and wherein an insert is provided for each envelope, the inserts adapted to hold the records therein, so that when a particular record is to be played or removed, the insert can be pivoted outwardly, and wherein when a record is not being used, the insert with that particular record is adapted to be arranged in an inward position whereby the phonograph record will be safely protected.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a phonograph record filing system which includes envelopes that are adapted to be made of a suitable material such as card board that is glazed on one side and rough on the other side, and wherein these envelopes are adapted to have inserts pivotally and movably arranged therein for holding the phonograph records.

Still another object is to provide such a phonograph record filing and handling mechanism that is economical to manufacture and efficient in operation and which is rugged in structure and foolproof in use.

These and other objects of the invention will become apparent from a reading of the following specification and claim together with the accompanying drawing, wherein like parts are a referred to and indicated by like reference characters, and wherein:

FIGURE -1 is a fragmentary elevational view, with parts broken away and in section, showing a record holding insert in position.

FEGURE 2 is a view similar to FIGURE 1, but showing the record holding insert in extended or outer position.

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3--3 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 44 of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 5 is a plan view showing the blank for making one of the record holding inserts and showing the blank before the parts or portions thereof are folded and secured together.

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary perspective view showing the projecting tab on the upper front portion of the insert.

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary perspective View showing the closed rear end of the insert.

FIGURE 8 is a fragmentary perspective view showing the lower front corner portion of the insert.

FIGURE 9 is a fragmentary perspective view showing the front portion of an envelope.

FIGURE 10 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view showing certain constructional details of the present invention.

Referring in detail to the drawings, the numeral 20 indicates a cabinet of any suitable construction, as for example the cabinet may include a base or horizontally disposed bottom portion 21 as. well as a horizontally disposed top section 22, and the front portion of the cabinet 20 may be opened as indicated by the numeral 23. As shown in FIGURE 1, the cabinet 20 may be provided with a decorative panel or front wall as indicated by the numeral 24.

According to the present invention, a plurality of containers or envelopes 26 are snugly positioned or arranged in the cabinet 29 in vertically disposed superposed or sideby-side relation with respect to each other, and these envelopes 26 all have the same construction. As shown in the drawings the top of each envelope 26 is closed as at 27, and the bottom is closed as at 28, and the rear or back portion of each envelope is closed as at 29, and.

the front of each envelope is open as indicated by the numeral 34. Each envelope 26 consists of a pair of spaced parallel vertically disposed side members 31 which are provided with registering apertures 30 in the lower front corner portions thereof, FIGURE 9. The numeral 32 indicates an overlapping portion at the top of the envelope, and as shown in the drawings, the lower front edge portion of each envelope is inclined rearwardly as at 33.

There is provided for each envelope 26 a pivotally mounted insert which is indicated generally by the numeral 35, and all of the inserts 35 have the same construction and each comprises first and second side walls or portions 36 and 37 which are joined as at 38, FIG- URE 5. Each insert 35 has its front portion closed as at 38, and lower portion 39 of the insert is open, and each insert has its upper portion 40 also open. The numeral 41 indicates the phonograph records, and one record 41 is adapted to be held or positioned in each insert 35. The numeral 42 in FIGURE 1 indicates the usual label that is afiixed to the central portion of the phonograph record 41.

It is to be noted that in the present invention the envelopes are adapted to be stacked vertically in a cabinet of a suitable construction and suitable clearance is provided between the envelopes and cabinet, and wherein the weight of the records in the envelopes will hold the parts in their proper assembled relation or position.

As shown in the drawings each insert 35 is shaped to include a generally straight lower first edge portion 43 which has arranged contiguous thereto a second straight edge portion 44, and the portion 44 is arranged angularly with respect to the portion 43. The numeral 45 indicates a third edge portion which is arranged angularly with respect to the second edge portion 44, FIGURES 1 and 2. As shown in FIGURE 5 for example, a flap portion $6 is joined to the side wall 37 by means of a fold line or crease line 47, and this flap 46 is adapted to be folded along the fold line 4-7 and secured to the wall portion 36 as for example by means of a suitable adhesive. The edge portion 33 is arranged angularly with respect to the edge portion 45. It will be noted from the drawing that each of the side walls 36 and 37 include an upper edge portion of generally concave or iarcuate formation, and the side wall portion 37 is slightly larger than the side will portion 36 so that a portion 48 of the member 37 projects above the upper edge of the member 36 for a purpose to be later described.

There is further provided a tab 49 on the upper front portion of the insert 35, and the tab 49 is integrally formed with the portion 37 and is separated from the portion 37 by means of a fold or crease line 50. The tab 49 is adapted to be folded as for example, as shown in FIGURE 6 whereby the tab 49 can be secured by means of a suitable adhesive to the portion 35 when the blank shown in FIGURE is properly folded to provide or form the completed insert 35. The rear of the insert 35 is closed by means of a foldable portion 51 which is joined to the portion 37 by means of a fold or crease line 52, and the portion 51 is adapted to be folded along the line 52 and secured to the adjacent surface of the portion 36 by means of an adhesive.

Referring to FIGURE 10 of the drawings, it will be seen that the inserts 35 are provided at their lower front corner portion with apertures 53 which register with the apertures in the envelopes 2.6, and fittings 54 have cylindrical portions 55 extending through these registering apertures 53 and 3t), and these fittings 54 are provided with outer circular flanges 56 which engage the outer surfaces of the envelope as shown in the drawings.

From the foregoing, it is apparent that there has been provided a means for filing and storing or handling phonograph records such as the records 41, and with the parts arranged as shown in the drawings, it will be seen that a plurality of the envelopes 26 are adapted to be positioned in a space such as a suitable space in a cabinet such as the cabinet 20, and the plurality of envelopes 26 are vertically disposed and are arranged in side-by-s-ide relation with respect to each other, as for example as shown in FIGURES 3 and 4. The envelopes 26 all have the same construction and the top is closed as at 22, the bottom is closed as at 28 and the rear is closed as at 29. The front of the envelopes are open as at 34 and this construction permits the inserts 35 to be manually moved into or out of the envelope so that for example the insert and record can be arranged as shown in FIGURE 1 in an inner position, or else these parts or members can be arranged in an extended position as shown in FIGURE 2.

The inserts 35 all have the same construction and each is adapted to be made of a suitable single piece of material such as the piece of material shown in FIGURE 5 which can be folded so as to form the completed insert. Thus, starting with the blank of FIGURE 5, the portions 36 and 37 can be folded together along the line 38, and then as shown in FIGURE 6 the tab 49 can be folded along the line 50 and this tab 49 can be secured to the portion 36 by means of a suitable adhesive. Similarly, the portion 51 can be folded along the line 52 and this portion 51 can be secured to the portion 36 by glue or the like. Also, the flap 46 is adapted to be folded along its line 47 and this flap 46 is adapted to be secured as by means of a suitable adhesive to the adjacent surface of the portion 36. The inserts 35 have apertures 53 in the lower front corner portions thereof, and these apertures 53 register with the apertures 30 in the envelopes 26, and a fitting 54 is provided for each envelope and insert, so that as shown in FIGURES 3 and 4 for example, when the parts are assembled, a plurality of these fittings 54 will be arranged in aligned end-to-end relation with respect to each other. It is to be noted that the inserts 35 can move from the position shown in FIGURE 1 to a position such as that shown in FIGURE 2 or vice versa.

The inserts 35 are closed at their front portion along the line 38, and the upper portion of the inserts are open as at 40, and the lower portions of the inserts are open as at 39, while the rear of the inserts are closed due to the provision of the folded portion 51. This construction permits the record such as the record 4 1 to be snugly positioned and received in each insert. It is to be noted that the wall portion 37 is slightly larger than the wall portion 36 so that a portion 48 of the wall 37 extends up above the top edge of the wall 36 and this projecting upper portion 48 functions as a guide surface to facilitate replacement or insertion of a record into the insert.

The tab 49 projects outward as shown in FIGURE 1,

when the insert is in its retracted or inner position, and this tab 49 can be used as a finger grip in order to facilitate the manual pivotal movement of the insert with the record therein, and in addition the tab 49 may be provided with indicia or printed matter thereon which can be used to identify the particular record 41 in that insert.

As shown in FIGURE 1 when the record 41 is in its retracted or inner position, the insert 4% is resting on its edge 44, and the edge portion 38 of the insert is in a position contiguous to the edge 34 of the envelope 26. However, when the insert 35 is pivoted or swung from the position shown in FIGURE 1 to a position such as that shown in FIGURE 2, the insert rests on the edge 45. Due to the provision of the arcuate upper edges of the walls 36 and 37, sufficient clearance is provided whereby a record 41 can be readily manually removed from the insert or replaced therein in such a manner that damage or harm to the record will be prevented.

As shown in FIGURE 1, when the record is not being used, the insert and record are in a retracted position so that the record 4-1 is substantially completely enclosed whereby dust, foreign matter or the like cannot contact the record and harm the same. Thus, with the parts in the position of FIGURE 1, the closed edges 38 and 45 will coact with the closed portions 27, 28, and 29 to provide a substantially completely enclosed container for the records.

The parts can be made of any suitable material and in different shapes or sizes.

It will be seen that according to the present invention there has been provided a phonograph record filing and handling system or apparatus which is an improvement over prior similar devices such as the device shown in prior Patent 2,535,688. The material that is used for making the parts may be of a suitable type such as a glazed surface cardboard, and the cardboard may be glazed on one side only while the other side may be roughened, or any other suitable material possessing comparable strength and utility may be utilized, and the basic aspects of the present invention are the insert which is so shaped that when pivoted according to the present invention and in a vertical position, it is easily pulled into a position to permit easy handling of the record without touching the playing surface of the record, both for taking out and putting back into the envelope. In addition the insertion of the record into the insert within the outer cover or envelope causes the insert to bulge so as to throw the upper portions of the insert against the inner wall of the outside envelope or cover and this serves to prevent the entrance of dust. When the front entrance of the outer wall of the envelope is closed by being stacked alongside other envelopes, a dustproof housing for the record will have been achieved or provided. Furthermore, the insert is shaped to engage the record for removal at a point where a minimum radius is used or required for putting the record into position for removal. A primary aspect or feature of the present invention is the insert and its function, and a suitable indexing system is adapted to be used in conjunction with the present invention to facilitate the location and removal of the desired record with ease and simplicity.

Basically the system for filing and handling phonograph records according to the present invention consists of the envelope and insert and these members are adapted to be held in a suitable cabinet for storing records. The fitting or eyelet 54 is used for joining the insert and the outer cover or envelope together, and this fitting is put in the envelope with just sufficient pressure to permit easy working of the two parts and in such a manner that undue strain or wear is eliminated.

According to the experts in the field, there are four things that cause rapid deterioration and depreciation in phonograph records such as high fidelity and stereo records. These are, first, stacking the records together which causes warping; and secondly, dust, and third, finger prints on the playing surface, and fourth, playing the records with dull needles. The system of the present invention solves all of these problems with the exception of the needle phase, and in addition provides an indexing system that puts the desired record at the owners or users fingertips regardless of the size of the library.

First, each record is given a home file number and the record is housed in the envelope, and the tab 49 is given the same number. The title of the record, the artist, and the home file number are adapted to be listed on a large sheet or on an indexed loose-leaf book depending on the number of records.

Some of the advantages of the present invention are as follows. When the envelope is in a vertical position in a cabinet, and a record is inside, the record itself causes the side of insert to bulge against the inside Walls of the outer envelope and this prevents dust from entering. The close proximity of the outer envelopes, when stacked in a cabinet, also prevent dust from entering even the outer envelope. In addition, when the tap 49 is pulled down, the record is put into position for easy handling without touching the playing surface, since the hands are free and the record is pulled out with the thumbs and forefingers, and similarly the record is put back in the same manner by pressing against the enlarged part of the insert on the right-hand side, this enlarged part being indicated by the numeral 48. Preferably the material used for making the parts consists of a glazed slick surface type of material such as a glazed type of cardboard or the like.

It is to be particularly noted that with the parts positioned as illustrated and described herein, the envelopes are stacked or positioned vertically in any suitable cabinet, and the Weight of the records in the envelopes holds them in place. The system works smoothly and efficiently whereby phonograph records can be conveniently and safely stored or filed and removed when the records are to be played.

Minor changes in shape, size and rearrangement of details coming within the field of invention claimed may be resorted to in actual practice, if desired.

What is claimed is:

In a device of the character described, a plurality of similar vertically disposed envelopes arranged in side by side relation with respect to each other, an insert movably and pivotally mounted in each envelope for holding a record therein, each of said envelopes comprising a pair of spaced parallel vertically disposed side members integrally joined at the upper and lower and rear portions thereof, the front portion of the envelope being open, each of said inserts comprising first and second vertically disposed side walls arranged in side-by-side relation with respect to each other, said second side wall being slightly larger than said first side wall whereby a portion of said second side wall is arranged above the upper edge portion of the first side wall, the front portion of the insert being closed, the lower portion of said insert being open, said insert including a generally straight lower first edge portion, a second edge portion arranged angularly with respect to said first edge portion, a third edge portion arranged angularly with respect to said second edge portion, a flap on said second side wall arranged in overlapping relation with-respect to said first side wall and said flap being secured to said first side wall in the vicinity of the third edge portion, said insert further embodying a fourth edge portion and said fourth edge portion being arranged angularly with respect to said third edge portion, each of said side walls including an upper edge portion of generally concave arcuate formation, a tab on the upper front portion of said insert, the rear end of the insert being closed, there being registering apertures in the lower front portions of the envelopes and inserts, and a fitting including a cylindrical portion extending through said registering apertures, and said fitting having outer circular flanges engaging the outer surfaces of the envelope.

References tilted in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,117,118 Weis Nov. 10, 1914 1,208,346 Marsh Dec. 12, 1916 2,535,688 Lowther Dec. 26, 1950 2,574,050 McCart Nov. 6, 1951 2,720,204 Wallach Oct. 11, 1955 2,777,574 Brody Ian. 15, 1957 FOREIGN PATENTS 983,552 France June 25, 1951 

